// The Retail Trust and law firm Foot Anstey team up to create safer working conditions for shopfloor staff
// Retailers looking to achieve certification, will be assessed across multiple aspects, including the policies and procedures they have in place to deal with harassment
The charity Retail Trust and law firm Foot Anstey LLP have joined forces to create a new certification aimed at protecting and reassuring shop workers as they face rising levels of abuse and inappropriate behaviour.
Under Retailers Against Harassment Certification, participating employers will work with both companies to review and improve the measures they have in place to protect their workers and deal with any complaints of harassment.
The retailers against harassment certification will then be awarded to each retailer to demonstrate the actions it is taking to tackle abusive incidents.
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The move comes after100 retail bosses from the UK’s largest retailers, including Ikea, Sainsbury’s and Tesco wrote an open letter to the prime minister in July, asking the government to give store staff greater protection by making abusing or assaulting retail staff a standalone criminal offence.
In December, the government tabled an amendment to the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, stating that assaults committed against shopworkers should be recognised as an aggravating offence.
According to research by Foot Anstey, almost two-thirds (61%) of shop workers have experienced offensive behaviour while working since the pandemic began, causing stress, anxiety and a loss of self-esteem.
But just 15% of retailers told the Retail Trust they have raised awareness or have implemented training to deal with the problem.
Helen Dickinson, Chief Executive of the BRC, said: “Violence towards shopworkers remains a major problem facing the industry. We welcome any initiatives aimed at supporting colleagues, and helping retailers to protect their workers. Similarly we welcome new ways to evaluate the effectiveness of measures currently in place to protect colleagues.”
Foot Anstey head of retail and consumer Nathan Peacey added: “Responsible retailers are already aware of the problem and are working hard to address it, and this certification is an opportunity to gauge the efficacy of their actions and show their teams they are taking this issue seriously.
“The programme will help retailers to build on their current approach using our insight and legal know-how, and Retail Trust’s 190 years of industry experience.”
Chris Brook-Carter, Chief Executive Officer of the Retail Trust added: “More and more people are turning to the Retail Trust because of the rising levels of abuse they are receiving in stores and call centres. This programme will help to give shop workers some of the clarity and reassurance they deserve by showing exactly what their employers are doing to protect them.”
“The Retailers Against Harassment Certification recognises the important role that employers have to play in creating safer and happier workplaces for their staff, and we applaud any retailers that take part. We look forward to helping more people this year as we join forces with Foot Anstey to bring the industry together in tackling such a terrible issue.”
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